Senior Michaela Deasy opened the scoring with her first goal of the season. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

Skyhawks notch seventh-straight win and remain perfect in NE-10 play

Stonehill got goals from three different players on the night as seniors Michaela Deasy (North Falmouth, Mass./Falmouth) and Courtney Foley (Wakefield, Mass./Wakefield Memorial) and junior Laura Menke (Greenland, N.H./St. Thomas Aquinas) each scored. Seniors Lauren Gifford (Goffstown, N.H./Goffstown) and Lindsey Pinkham (Skowhegan, Maine/Skowhegan Area) each chipped in with assists.

Franklin Pierce got goals from junior Kimberly Jaksina (Townsend, Mass./North Middlesex) and sophomore Susan Conroy (Walpole, Mass./Walpole), while junior Danielle Dolan (West Brookfield, Mass./Quaboag Regional) dished an assist.

Senior Courtney Osier (South Dennis, Mass./Dennis-Yarmouth) preserved the win with three saves, including two in the second half, for Stonehill. Junior Brittany Nyzio (Attleboro, Mass./Worcester Academy) made one stop in the first 53:08 before giving way to classmate Rachel Baxter (Cumberland, R.I./Cumberland) who made one save over the final 16:52.

Junior Laura Menke netted what proved to be the gamewinning goal in the second half. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

Deasy opened the scoring 7:03 into the contest with her first goal of the season on a drive from the upper left corner of the arc off a rebound. Franklin Pierce equalized just over seven minutes later when Conroy bagged her first goal of the year with a low shot from eight yards out off a loose ball at 14:47.

Stonehill scored the next two goals around halftime to stake out a 3-1 lead. Foley put the Skyhawks back in front with a low drive from eight yards out off a give and go with Gifford at 21:02 for her fourth goal of the season and second in as many matches. Menke provided what proved to be a valuable insurance goal 4:49 into the second half when she knocked in a one-timed shot at the left post off a pass from Pinkham, who deked past two defenders, on a fast break counter attack.

Franklin Pierce wouldn't go quietly as Jaksina blasted in a penalty corner from Dolan from the upper left corner of the arc at 48:43. The goal came on the heels of a shot by junior Tia Levins (Manchester, Maine/Maranacook) being cleared off the goal line by Stonehill freshman back Gina Sheehan (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury). The Ravens continued to apply pressure immediately after the goal, but Osier made two saves over the next ten minutes to keep the Skyhawks in front.

Junior Kathryn Nelson (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) came close to regaining a two-goal cushion for Stonehill with just under ten minutes to play, but Baxter made a diving stop as she tried to stuff the ball in at the doorstep.

Stonehill (10-4, 6-0 NE-10) returns to action on Saturday when it visits Saint Anselm College for an NE-10 matchup at noon. The Skyhawks return home next Wednesday with a showdown with No. 2-ranked University of Massachusetts Lowell on Senior Night at 7 p.m. Franklin Pierce (6-7, 3-2 NE-10) hosts Adelphi University on Saturday at 3 p.m.